Trader Joe’s Spiced Cider

It’s fall and one of my favorites is Starbucks Carmel Apple Cider or whatever they call it these days. It’s the right blend of spices and apple. It’s served warm with whipped cream and a drizzle of caramel. While I adore Starbucks’s attempt. However, the Trader Joe’s version is ok in it’s own way. It’s not a replacement for that drink. Trader Joe’s Spiced Cider is loved by many, but I felt the balance of spice was a bit off.

The Pros: This is made from 100% juice, however it is not all apple

The Cons:  Some of the spices come through way too strong. Cloves should be respected, that’s the first thing that hits you.

The Verdict:
Skip. Get fresh cider. It’s not terrible, but it’s nothing I’d repurchase either.

Here is the visual rundown of what you can expect if you purchase this product.

The bottle:

The ingredients:

The nutritional information:

My final thoughts is was such a bummer. I heated up a mug to try it warm. Nope, clove was even stronger then. The glass is still sitting in front of me as I write this and I find that I have no interest in it. The only thing left to do is to see if I can turn this bottle into a drink mixer and booze it up. If I can make it work I’ll post it. Otherwise, walk past this item at Trader Joe’s it just did not jive with me because of the spices. However, Trader Joe’s Spiced Cider is a perennial favorite with many out there and made the favorite product list last year.

Want to see more items I’ve reviewed at Trader Joe’s? Click on Thoughts & Reviews of Trader Joe’s for a searchable list.

Want to make something on your own? Check out the Food and Drinks pages.